COMIC OPERA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 133, 22 June 1937, Page 2

COMIC OPERA

"Merry Widow" To-morrow Night To-morrow night J. O. WiSliamson Ltd. will present Franz Lehar's immorfcal operettta "The Merry Widow," which can oniy be staged for one performance. On Thursday night the company will make its final appearance in the very popular comic opera "The Maid of the Mountains," in which Gladys Moncrieg has achieved some of her greatest successes. The excellent booking is indicative of the wonderful popularity of Gladys Moncrieff, The recent revivals of "The Merry Widow" and "The Maid of the Mountains" proved wonderfully succesful, and in the roles of Senia and Teresa Miss Moncrieg sang in great form, encore upon encore being demanded of her principal solos. "It was a hungry audience," wrote a critic recently, "wliose demand for some of the numbers such as "Villia" rau to three and four heljiings, This was a great conipliment to Gladys Moncrieg and the other artists, and, to an extent, to the egect of real music on a jazzpeisoned publie." Were it possible to hild a publie plebiscite to decide whdch are the favourite operas written during the past thirty years, the chances are that "The Merry Widow" and "The Maid of the Mountains" would head the list by a large majority, but, anyhow, the record audiences which . have been attracted to thet Williamsons theatres go far to prove their popularity witb the present generation of playgoers. Among the best known of tlie musical numbers in "The Merry Widow' are "A Dutiful Wife," "Maxims," "Villia," "The Cavalier," "Simpleton," "Women," "Merry Widow Waltz," "Love In My Heart," and "I Love You So." Cecil Ke'.laway last appeared liere in "Dqbarry," and it was his eomedy work in that opera which greatly assisted' to make it an outstanding success . He is in his element as Baron Popog in "The Merry Widow" and as General Malona in "The Maid of the Mountains." Don Nicol is a very talented comedian, and Eric Bush is Australia' s best comic opera juvenile lead. Other • principalg are Arthur Clarke, Carmen Mascaguy, Leslie Crane. Cecil Pawley, Peter Dawson, Geog Colledge, Gerald Connelly, Leslie Donaghey. - Both "The Merry Widow" and "The Maid of the Mountains" will be presented with new and elaborate stage settings, and with gorgeous dresses and costumes, and a feature of each will be the work of tlie operatic chorus and orchestra. The box plans are at Fail's.